60 years ago

september 26, 1957

Over 50 new families who have moved to Marion since last November have received a warm and friendly welcome from a service called “Welcome Basket,” a project of 20th Century Club. Two members of the club call upon newcomers presenting them with a laundry basket filled with gifts from local merchants and acquainting them with the location of churches, schools, hospital, clubs, city service, etc.

Lives of two local officers, Undersheriff Henry Loveless and Trooper B.C. Powell, were threatened Sunday evening by a 17-year-old Peabody boy they were questioning at his home about stolen items when he leveled a powerful .44-40 Winchester rifle at them. A possible tragedy was averted when the gun, pointed at Loveless, misfired.

The Twin Star Rocket jumped the tracks at Peabody about 1 a.m. Monday with only the lead engine unit and the last car of the train remaining on the tracks. Twenty-four of the 84 passengers were injured enough to be taken to a hospital for treatment and only one of them was seriously injured.

If you didn’t see the aurora borealis Sunday night, you missed a most gorgeous display of northern lights seen in a long time. People who were up all night stated they could be seen until almost daybreak.